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Comment by Melissa M Winslade on August 13, 2011 at 21:39

RESPONSIBLE INVESTING:

Despite debated thoughts and changing notions about climate change, renewable energy, organic food and recycling, it’s difficult to argue that the markets created around “being green” are growing. For example:

- Ahead of federal legislation, as of 2008 31 US states have green building policies along with 157 municipalities. - Organic food and drinks outperformed the wider grocery sector in 2008. - Clean technology venture investment rose to a record $8.4 billion in 2008 despite credit cri- sis and broadening recession.

Responsible Investing: Is it too easy to be green? Last updated: 26 January 2010 Written by: Craig Metrick http://www.mercer.com

These indicators combined with macro trends of population growth in emerging markets, and with concerns regarding the fulfillment of basic needs: (food, water, energy)...You can see that the long-term growth prospects for green or sustainable markets are compelling.

Setting aside environmental drivers, there is growing concern over national security and en- ergy security, which could be improved by addressing poverty, energy waste, and depend- ence on oil. Socially Responsible Investment Matches Conventional Market Strategies - By Alain Sherter | Aug 12, 2009

http://industry.bnet.com/financial-services/10002194/socially-respo...

Comment by Kath Dewar on July 21, 2011 at 18:06

Hi - just spotted this thanks to the Intersect newsletter :)

One of the easiest ways to make sustainable investments in NZ is with Prometheus Ethical Finance - they offer secure term deposits and call accounts, all invested in NZ with socially and environmentally responsible projects: www.prometheus.co.nz

Disclaimer - I have worked with these guys in the past. They're a fab company.

Comment by Carolyn Shivanandan on June 15, 2011 at 8:39

Sam,

I know of one Kiwisaver fund that might be at least reasonably sustainable (and presumably ethical...) - the ASB Firstchoice sustainability fund.  http://www.firstchoiceinvestments.co.nz/individuals/investment-glob... 

I picked it because it was the first one I came across that sounded like it was at least paying attention to green/ethical issues. It is not part of the main ASB Kiwisaver fund, so not exactly high profile.

 

Comment by Sam Rye on June 14, 2011 at 20:11

I can't help but notice there isn't a whole lot of mainstream ethical investment opportunities in NZ at the moment.  At my last review, there is no ethical Kiwisaver investment scheme. That's a worry.

 

We've been looking at crowdfunding platforms and the like, but I don't think they're a sustainable answer to funding of projects - so would love to hear from some others on a picture of the ethical investing landscape here in NZ.  I know it's really quite sophisticated over in the UK now.

Comment by Carl Chenery on March 21, 2011 at 12:43

Podcast from Sunday's feature on the Ideas Programme on Radio NZ is now online here. Some points I heard from Glen Saunders (feel free to add points from Robert & Rodger):

• NZ is playing catch up
• Options aren't really available through Kiwisaver as yet.
• Social Enterprise sector would benefit from having capital/assets (Social Enterprise is approx 15% of activity of US and UK)

Comment by Carl Chenery on March 18, 2011 at 15:11

Ethical Investment is being discussed on Chris Laidlaw this Sunday at 11:05am.

11.05 Ideas: Ethical Investment

Is one person’s ethical investment simply another’s usury with a fancy name? Can the pension funds of the world become a force for good? Ideas explores these and other issues with: Glen Saunders a former director of Europe’s social lender, Triodos Bank, and a former guardian of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund; Dr Robert Howell, the chair of the Council for Socially Responsible  Investment; and Rodger Spiller the executive director the New Zealand Centre For Business Ethics and Sustainable Development.

Links:

Triodos Bank http://www.triodos.co.uk/en/about-triodos/

Council for Socially Responsible Investment http://www.csri.org.nz/

New Zealand Centre For Business Ethics and Sustainable Development http://www.nzcbesd.org.nz/

Comment by paul bruce on December 10, 2010 at 18:29

Waitati Energy Project meeting
Blueskin Bay and Waitati plans to become the first community in New Zealand to own their own power company, build a community-owned wind-turbine cluster, and sell electricity back to the grid. Scott Willis, Project Manager Waitati Energy Project (Blueskin Power, Dunedin) will be giving a talk next Monday in Wellington and linking up with a similar Wellington based group.

A feasibility study produced by Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust with the support of Hikurangi Foundation and EECA, says that New Zealand has the potential to break with centralised think-big generation projects and build a resilient decentralised national grid while providing householders with the keys to moderate their own energy consumptions patterns. Scott Willis with describe the work to date initiated by a community trust (BRCT) in the semi-rural South Island community of Blueskin Bay. Their mission statement includes the desire to “…to seek partnerships with other groups.. and communities who share the key theme of our vision”.

A Wellington based cooperative project was also considered last November with an attendance of 27 people. The Wellington Community Wind Farm Group is now distributing a draft mission statement with a meeting planned for early February.

Meeting :

Monday 13th December 11.45am to 12.30pm
Greater Wellington Regional Council 142 Wakefield St
Ground floor meeting room One.

For more information:

Scott Willis  027 4888314  waitatienergy@gmail.com
Conor Coady  021 0748237
Cr Paul Bruce 021 02719370  Paul.Bruce@gw.govt.nz

Links:

Waitati Energy Project http://www.transitionnetwork.org/projects/waitati-energy-project
Waitati Energy Feasibility study http://www.eeca.govt.nz/node/10898
Other distributed feasibility studies http://www.eeca.govt.nz/distributed-generation-fund
Wellington Community Wind Farm facebook page http://on.fb.me/ePFBE1

Comment by Steve Rickerby on October 20, 2010 at 23:31

I have a book - ex library if anyone wants to borrow... "The Ethical Investor" by Russell Sparkes (How to make money work for society and the environment as well as yourself)... It was published in '95 but still a good deal of useful info.. No point in it sitting on my bookshelf when it could be being read!

Comment by kiri schumacher on October 20, 2010 at 16:22

At our first Ethical Investing meeting some questions were raised around the kiwsaver scheme.
The word document details:
1. The basics
2. Ethical options
3. First-home buying with kiwsaver

And the pdfs give further reading on ethical options within kiwsaver

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5-LUeSzMRYeM2JjMTYxNWEtNWU1YS...
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5-LUeSzMRYeOTlhNWYzM2ItOTY5ZC...
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1vzcJDMqQWbrQsudZ66AItAkcv...

Comment by Carl Chenery on October 20, 2010 at 10:07

Endowments are BIG in the USA.
This group The Responsible Endowments Coalition have created resources (webinars, Handbooks, sample proposals, sample policies, success stories) in the context of colleges (universities) in the US applying ethical principles to ehir large investments.

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